Ohio not chasing old, erroneous food stamp money

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio has stopped trying to recover accidental food stamp overpayments made before 2000.

State officials explain this week's decision by saying that going way back would create problems for poor families not responsible for the errors.

Spokesman Rob Nichols says Gov. John Kasich believes it's "impractical and mean-spirited" to seek repayment of the money.

The same rationale was given last month when the state stopped going after excess welfare cash assistance paid out by mistake more than 10 years earlier.

Nichols says in cases of fraud, the governor believes the money should be pursued no matter how long ago the food stamps were paid out.